New York, November 20th, 2008 - Today, OpenSkies, the premium transatlantic subsidiary of British Airways, and L'Avion, the first scheduled French airline to offer 100% business class transatlantic flights at attractive prices, announced new customer benefits available starting in December - including an expanded codeshare agreement.
OpenSkies and L'Avion join forces to offer more premium options
After British Airways' purchase of L'Avion this summer, the integration of L'Avion into OpenSkies has been progressing and is on track to be completed in the first quarter of 2009. Both companies are working together to offer a product that gives their passengers more premium travel options between New York and Paris. The new joint company will be called OpenSkies, an independent brand with the full support and endorsement of British Airways.
British Airways Executive Club
All customers flying L'Avion will be able to earn British Airways Executive Club miles effective December 2nd. When flying on OpenSkies in PREM+ and on L'Avion, 125% of the actual flown mileage will be awarded. When flying on OpenSkies in BIZ, customers will continue to receive 150% of the actual flown mileage. L'Avion customers will be able to enter their BA Executive Club number into bookings made via the L'Avion website or through their travel agent.
New expanded codeshare
Taking effect on December 2nd, 2008, a new codeshare relationship between OpenSkies and L'Avion will offer an expanded schedule of flights between New York and Paris, with up to three daily departures between Paris-Orly and New York-JFK/Newark (EWR). In addition, OpenSkies also serves Amsterdam from New York-JFK.
Customers booking on www.flyopenskies.com [1] will see L'Avion flights and fares shown in the OpenSkies PREM+ cabin. On www.lavion.com [2], OpenSkies flights will be shown alongside the existing L'Avion fares. Both OpenSkies and L'Avion offer a spacious business class seat with a generous 47-52" (120-132 cm) seat pitch and 140° of recline in a 2x2 configuration.
In early 2009, the L'Avion aircraft will be reconfigured to offer the same business class 180° lie-flat bed currently offered as BIZ class on the OpenSkies fleet - at which time the codeshare will be extended to offer this product as well.
"We are pleased to extend our codeshare agreement as we're continuing to bring together two outstanding airlines," said Dale Moss, Managing Director of OpenSkies. "With our shared focus on premium service at great prices, we believe L'Avion and OpenSkies together have a compelling product for today's transatlantic market and we're looking forward to completing our integration early next year."
OpenSkies and L'Avion flights can be booked online, via both companies' call centers or at your travel agencies.
OpenSkies and L'Avion :
These two scheduled airlines, owned by British Airways, operate Business Class transatlantic flights at very attractive prices on Boeing 757 aircraft between Paris Orly and New York-JFK or Newark, with up to three daily flights. OpenSkies also flies from Amsterdam-Schiphol to New York-JFK. For more information: www.flyopenskies.com [1] or 1 866 581 3596 / www.lavion.com [2] or 1 866 692 6759.
Links:
[1] http://www.flyopenskies.com/
[2] http://www.lavion.com/